Case Western Reserve University promotes Michael Oakes to executive vice president for research and economic development
New role aligns research, innovation and partnerships to accelerate ideas to impact and drive regional growth
Research universities play a critical role in fostering regional economic development, driving innovation, workforce development, business startup and growth and community advancement.
To further advance that mission, Case Western Reserve University today announced the promotion of Michael Oakes to executive vice president for research and economic development. The appointment is effective Jan. 1.
“Michael aligns people, infrastructure, and partnerships to deliver results for our faculty, students, and regional stakeholders,” President Eric W. Kaler said. “This role will accelerate problem-focused, multisector research, strengthen industry engagement, advance our NSF Regional Innovation Engines efforts, and increase our impact on Northeast Ohio’s economy—even amid shifts in federal funding.”
“This promotion is an honor and a responsibility. It recognizes progress and raises expectations,” Oakes said. “In this increasingly dynamic environment, universities must evolve, be more agile and responsive, integrate AI across fields and deliver measurable results for students, patients, companies and communities.”
Oakes was appointed Case Western Reserve’s inaugural senior vice president for research and technology management in July 2022. He oversees the university’s research enterprise and technology transfer program. Under his leadership, research expenditures grew from $440 million in 2022 to $660 million in 2025.
He is the Veale Professor of Technology Transfer and Commercialization and a tenured professor of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the CWRU School of Medicine. He joined Case Western Reserve after 20 years at the University of Minnesota.
Oakes leads the scientific aspects of the university’s $300 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB), scheduled to open next year. ISEB’s problem-first, cross-sector model aligns talent and infrastructure with regional needs and accelerates the path from idea to impact.
He also created the 11000 Cedar Startup Incubator (formerly BioEnterprise), a 40,000-square-foot business incubator across from ISEB that attracts and nurtures startups from around the world.
In addition, Oakes is leading and supporting the region’s transformative National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) effort—an initiative involving industry, universities, community colleges, philanthropies, government and community partners focused on establishing Northeast Ohio as a premier innovation hub for materials science and advanced manufacturing nationally.
“Greater research impact is central to our vision,” said Julie Gerberding, chair of Case Western Reserve's Board of Trustees. “This appointment will help translate CWRU’s strengths into jobs, investment and societal benefit—here in Northeast Ohio and beyond.”
